Wish You Were Here!

Well, we've made it to our first stop, my younger brother's house in KY. Having a great time!

Here's Why You Haven't Heard from Me Much Lately:

Whew! I am worn out! I am taking a break from packing in order to print some maps and directions, but I decided that my brain needed a break as well! (: Drama Queen had her birthday party today, which was loosely based on a luau theme. She and her 15 buddies had a ball. (Yes, I know that's a lot, but it's so hard to choose who not to come when she has so many friends.) There were many more that were not able to come. Here are a few highlights:

Playing "Fish, Fish, Shark" (Duck, Duck Goose):

Playing a fun relay game:


For Lunch - Octopus Dogs:


(I know they look gross all tangled up together, but they looked cute on the plates!)

Okay, this REALLY looks gross. It was supposed to look like an aquarium. I think it better resembles a lake that has been used as an illegal dump for radioactive waste. The Finding Nemo fruit snacks swelled up and looked a little grotesque. Oh well. The kids liked it!


We had so many girls that we had to put them in two separate rooms:


Okay, I know Disney princesses don't technically go with a luau theme, but here's how you take advantage of a bargain (7 bucks!):

Finally, those who know me in real life will get a kick out of this mistake the bakery made on Drama Queen's cookie cake (I didn't bother to look at it when I picked it up):


Well, tomorrow we're off on a whirlwind trip! We are so excited. We have rented cabins in Canada with Hubby's family and we're going to spend a week together fishing, swimming, and just hanging out. The kids and I are taking the scenic route so we can visit family along the way, then Hubby will fly up and meet us.

Y'all, I have worked SO hard packing for this trip. You have no idea. I used to be terribly disorganized and almost always ended up pulling an all-nighter any time we went somewhere. This time HAD to be different, due to the sheer amount of stuff we need. You'd be so proud of me. I had the kids' clothes packed a week ago! I have been organizing, doing some serious laundry, making lists, and setting things aside to pack. (All the while planning the luau party to boot.) I was feeling pretty smug and proud of myself, until something came along and did THIS to me:

I had no idea that a little old wasp sting could cause so much pain! I've been stung before, but it was always a non-issue. I never had a reaction like this before. My arm has felt like it was in a vise due to muscle cramping, and the pain has kept me up for two nights straight. (Think of the feeling you get when you get a tetanus shot, then multiply it by a factor of, say, 1000.) I had to go to the doctor to get an antibiotic for infection. It has made it hard to lift or even move my arm, so it has been so hard to finish packing. The trip to the doctor and naps to make up for the loss of sleep haven't done much to help me accomplish anything, either.

So, here I am again, staying up late to get ready for a trip. At least it's not my fault this time!

I will probably not be back on the blog for nearly 3 weeks. I look forward to posting pics of our trip and telling you all about it when I get back!

Allergies . . . Gotta Love 'Em

This little pile was created in less than 5 minutes, my friends. I should buy stock in Kleenex.

We're Ready!

Can you tell that Pete and Drama Queen are just a teeny bit excited about our upcoming trip?


The wild blackberries in our backyard are ripening. Yum! Hope there will still be some when we get back! Assuming there are any left when we leave, considering how fast as Drama Queen has been eating them!

WFMW: Charging a Cell Phone

(I'm sorry that I've been so derelict in my bloggy duties! I have many new exciting posts for you, but they are just going to have to wait until after our vacation. If all goes well, I might get some posted before I leave.)

I am really forgetful, and nothing irks me like leaving my cell phone at home. I came up with a perfect solution, and have not left my cell behind even once:


All I do is tuck the charging phone into my purse. I can't take my purse anywhere without disconnecting the phone. Works for me!

Here are my previous WFMW posts:

Swim/Shower with a Cast
Free Tech Support
Calming Injured Children
Choosing a Phone Number
What NOT to Soak Contacts In
Broken Glass Cleanup
Cheap Rolling Cart for Conventions
Chocolate Recipes
Tooth-Tugging Tip for Terrified Tots
Handy Earache Relief
Uses for Leftover Bread
Leaky Diaper/Pull-up Fix
Snack Mix Recipe (at the end of the post)
Awesome Stain Recipe (at the end of the post)
"Fun"damentals of Family Life
Removing Wite-Out from Everything
When NOT to Save Money
Public Service Announcement

For more WFMW tips, stop by Shannon's blog.

WFMW: Shower/Swim with a Cast

Last summer, my niece broke her arm right before our big family vacation. This product saved her summer! It's a DryPro Waterproof Cast Cover, a rubber sleeve that fits over the cast, then you simply squeeze the attached pump a few times to draw out the air and create a watertight seal. That's it! Best of all, she could swim, tube, shower or do anything she wanted while wearing it. Never a drop of water got on her cast! They also make them for a PICC line, Ostomy or Prosthetic. My sister-in-law said it was worth every penny and more!



Here are my previous WFMW posts:

Free Tech Support
Calming Injured Children
Choosing a Phone Number
What NOT to Soak Contacts In
Broken Glass Cleanup
Cheap Rolling Cart for Conventions
Chocolate Recipes
Tooth-Tugging Tip for Terrified Tots
Handy Earache Relief
Uses for Leftover Bread
Leaky Diaper/Pull-up Fix
Snack Mix Recipe (at the end of the post)
Awesome Stain Recipe (at the end of the post)
"Fun"damentals of Family Life
Removing Wite-Out from Everything
When NOT to Save Money
Public Service Announcement

For more WFMW tips, stop by Shannon's blog.

Mess of the Day #20: Anthony Wiggle

I always leave the door to the laundry room closed to keep Screech out. I opened it and left it for 30 seconds while I went to get a basket of laundry, because, of course, I can't open the door when my hands are full.

When I returned, Screech was making Anthony Wiggle "dance" in a washbasin, in which a pair of her shorts were soaking in an effort to remove massive amounts of, um, diaper leakage.

Ewww.

Because his body is not washable, I am so thankful that only Anthony's shoes bore the brunt of this unfortunate incident. By the way, we don't know where his shirt is. At least the body isn't made to be really lifelike. Did you know that, according to Wikipedia, Anthony has large tattoos on both arms?

I couldn't bear to take a picture of Anthony's makeshift swimming pool.

You're welcome.

Mess of the Day #19: Splenda

Sigh. When will I learn?

No, This Is NOT Pizza Hut!

I mentioned in this post that I regret our choice of phone number. Here are two of MANY reasons why:

12:17 A.M. (as in, MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT) Brrrrrring!

Groggy Blogger: (croaks) Hello?

Drunken Idiot: Izzis Pizza Hut?

Groggy Blogger: No.

Drunken Idiot: Can you look up the number for Pizza Hut for me?

Groggy Blogger: No, I won't. You obviously didn't do such a great job looking it up yourself the first time, so you need to try again!

Sigh. I know I should have been more like Jesus, but it's hard when I'm rudely awakened. Here's another doozie:

Drunken Idiot: Izzis Pizza Hut?

Disgruntled Blogger: No.

Drunken Idiot: Can you go up to Pizza Hut and tell them that there's a hair in my pizza?

Big sigh. BIG, huffy, grumpy sigh.

Mess of the Day #18: Marker

Screech is quite the opportunist. She got into this while I was on the phone with Daddy. I had just checked on her 30 seconds before!

Mess of the Day #17: Yogurt

Guess who's tall enough to reach WAY back on the countertops now? Nothing is safe anymore!



And guess who was busy watching Star Trek when this happened? (Hint: Mommy was at the neighbor's house at the time.)

Any time Screech gets food on the sly, she shovels it in as fast as her little hands will go. She knows that she'll be caught!

Our Wonderful Week

I had an awesome "bloggy break"! We enjoyed our friends so much. Here are a few highlights:

We spent a lot of time just hanging out and having fun here at the house. Here is Doodlebug clowning for us:
Pete took Doodlebug for a ride on the wagon. It was so cute! They played really well together.
Here's Pete with Drama Queen's best friend, Gymgirl. (This is the same one he wanted to sleep with.)
Pete wrote Gymgirl this sweet note:
At the end of the week we went to Chattanooga together. The kids had a ball playing in the water outside the aquarium.
Pete played with girls all week and it shows. Here he is playing "mer-boy."
I had brought a swim diaper for Screech, but watching her waddle like a duck was so much more fun!
Petting the stingrays is always a highlight at the Aquarium.

We spent forever in the butterfly garden at the Aquarium. Gymgirl caught this one by herself.
Screech was so tickled to hold one by herself.

Poor Screech conked out after a long day with no nap.
Seconds later, she was like this:
Swimming in the hotel pool was a blast! (Screech wasn't getting her way in this pic.)

Easy Recipe Thursday: Mom's Creamy Jell-O Salad

Sorry I've been gone for so long! I REALLY enjoyed my break and will finish posting about it soon.

Here's one of my favorite things that my mom-in-love makes. It is SO creamy and yummy. It is also delicious made sugar free. Enjoy!

Mom’s Creamy Jell-O

1 small pkg. Jell-O, any flavor (strawberry or peach is awesome!)
1 C boiling water
2 C (1 pint) vanilla ice cream (not vanilla bean)
1 C fruit, optional (do not use fresh pineapple or kiwi, or Jello will not set)
Cool Whip, optional

Stir Jell-O into boiling water until completely dissolved. Stir in ice cream until completely melted. Chill until set. (If desired, stir in fruit when partially set, about 30 minutes.) Top with Cool Whip, if desired.

This is also delicious made with sugar free Jell-O and ice cream. I use Edy’s sugar free vanilla.

Ooh, I almost forgot. If you want a zingier, tangier flavor, make it with sherbet or sorbet!